Sanctifying Life

In memoriam Eyal, Gilad and Naftali.

This past Shabbat we read the portion of Chukkat with its almost incomprehensible commandment of the red heifer whose mixed with "living water" purified those who had been in contact with death so that they could enter the Mishkan, symbolic home of the glory of God. Almost incomprehensible but not entirely so.

The mitzvah of the parah adumah, the red heifer, was a protest against the religions of the ancient world that glorified death. Death for the Egyptians was the realm of the spirits and the gods. The pyramids were places where, it was believed, the spirit of the dead Pharaoh ascended to heaven and joined the immortals.

The single most striking thing about the Torah and Tanakh in general is its almost total silence on life after death. We believe in it profoundly. We believe in olam haba (the world to come), Gan Eden (paradise), and techiyat hametim (the resurrection of the dead). Yet Tanakh speaks about these things only sparingly and by allusion. Why so?

Because too intense a focus on heaven is capable of justifying every kind of evil on earth. There was a time when Jews were burned at the stake, so their murderers said, in order to save their immortal souls. Every injustice on earth, every act of violence, even suicide bombings, can be theoretically defended on the grounds that true justice is reserved for life after death.

Against this Judaism protests with every sinew of its soul, every fiber of its faith. Life is sacred. Death defiles. God is the God of life to be found only by consecrating life. Even King David was told by God that he would not be permitted to build the Temple because “you have shed much blood.”

Judaism is supremely a religion of life. That is the logic of the Torah’s principle that those who have had even the slightest contact with death need purification before they may enter sacred space. The rite of the red heifer delivered this message in the most dramatic possible way. It said, in effect, that everything that lives – even a heifer that never bore the yoke, even red, the colour of blood which is the symbol of life – may one day turn to ash, but that ash must be dissolved in the waters of life. God lives in life. God must never be associated with death.

Eyal, Gilad and Naftali were killed by people who believed in death. Too often in the past Jews were victims of people who practiced hate in the name of the God of love, cruelty in the name of the God of compassion, and murder in the name of the God of life. It is shocking to the very depths of humanity that this still continues to this day.

Never was there a more pointed contrast than, on the one hand, these young men who dedicated their lives to study and to peace, and on the other the revelation that other young men, even from Europe, have become radicalized into violence in the name of God and are now committing murder in His name. That is the difference between a culture of life and one of death, and this has become the battle of our time, not only in Israel but in Syria, in Iraq, in Nigeria and elsewhere. Whole societies are being torn to shreds by people practicing violence in the name of God.

Cultures that worship death, die, while those that sanctify life, live on.

Against this we must never forget the simple truth that those who begin by practicing violence against their enemies end by committing it against their fellow believers. The verdict of history is that cultures that worship death, die, while those that sanctify life, live on. That is why Judaism survives while the great empires that sought its destruction were themselves destroyed.

Our tears go out to the families of Eyal, Gilad and Naftali. We are with them in grief. We will neither forget the young victims nor what they lived for: the right that everyone on earth should enjoy, to live a life of faith without fear.

Bila hamavet lanetzach: “May He destroy death forever, and may the Lord God wipe away the tears from all faces.” May the God of life, in whose image we are, teach all humanity to serve Him by sanctifying life.

Visitor Comments: 10

No other words can express my thoughts. May you be comforted among the mourners of Zion. We are all standing there with you holding your hand. One family.

(9)
Linda Stern,
July 2, 2014 2:01 AM

As a mother, know the whole civilized world sends our condolences to the families of these three young beautiful boys.

May you know the whole civilized world sends condolences to the families of these three young beautiful boys.

(8)
Maureen,
July 1, 2014 10:19 PM

Our tears are not stopping. Our grief is so deep

It is a time if intense grief and comfort is hard to come by. May love and faith surround you at this impossible time.
Ottawa Canada.

(7)
Daisy Harari mayer,
July 1, 2014 8:36 PM

The rabbi

We also are mourning for the three boy. And G blesse them in Heven.when I red this article from the rabbi , I could enderstand that our soul will be with the families, even when we are very fare from Israel, we are one people we are juwis, all over the world we are sorry for what happen in Israel

(6)
Eugene levich,
July 1, 2014 8:35 PM

Noble fury is needed

Fighting hordes of beasts disguised as humans requires great spiritual faith. There are times when faith should be helped by noble fury. Israeli people are entering the stage when white gloves will have to be off. In the first place it concerns the fifth column using the slogans of democracy to abuse democracy. It's a war for survival against monstrous caliphate not the provincial conflict with palestinians

(5)
Anonymous,
July 1, 2014 6:16 PM

thank you

May He destroy death forever, and may the Lord God wipe away the tears from all faces.” May the God of life, in whose image we are, teach all humanity to serve Him by sanctifying life.

Living after a family members suicide. Your article reminds me that when I meet the Almighty One He will answer, "Here he is, right here in my heart, where he ALWAYS has been. Thank you for your ongoing inspirations. I'm not even Jewish and enjoy your writings very much. Thanks

(4)
Ruben Soto,
July 1, 2014 3:22 PM

In memoriam Eyal, Gilad and Naftali

From the distant lands of Venezuela, I want to send a prayer of peace and love through the painful disappearance of three beautiful young. For his family, there are no words to express how sorry I am. The only thing is confidence to feel that they are closer to the Creator. Amen ...

(3)
Are,
July 1, 2014 3:20 PM

Outraged

I am outraged that through this whole ordeal the international community does not draw the line at children being used as weapons for war. A kidnapping is not the same as a child dying because he/ she was hit when an area is under fire as there would be no premeditation. A kidnapping IS premeditated. When we stop expecting acts of war to stay within battles of military vs military, we lose our humanity and eventually face extinction.

(2)
grieving mother,
July 1, 2014 3:13 PM

R.I.P may you memories be for a blessing. Now show those murders that they must pay. Am Israel Chai.

(1)
Phil and Margaret Daniell,
July 1, 2014 11:29 AM

Deepest sympathy and prayers from British Christians in Germany

On Tue, Jul 1, 2014 at 1:04 AM, PJDANIELL <> wrote:

Dear Stacey and all at Aish,

We are devastated by the very sad news of the death of the three young men. We mourn with you and with the whole of Israel.

Our hearts break especially for the families of these three young men lost at the hands of radical Islam.

May HaShem, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, comfort their families in Zion - Psalm 34 v 18.

We - and so many Christians - will continue to pray for the peace of Jerusalem, the Jewish people and for Israel - Psalm 122 and Isaiah 62 v 6-7

I live in rural Montana where the Cholov Yisrael milk is difficult to obtain and very expensive. So I drink regular milk. What is your view on this?

The Aish Rabbi Replies:

Jewish law requires that there be rabbinic supervision during the milking process to ensure that the milk comes from a kosher animal. In the United States, many people rely on the Department of Agriculture's regulations and controls as sufficiently stringent to fulfill the rabbinic requirement for supervision.

Most of the major Kashrut organizations in the United States rely on this as well. You will therefore find many kosher products in America certified with a 'D' next to the kosher symbol. Such products – unless otherwise specified on the label – are not Cholov Yisrael and are assumed kosher based on the DOA's guarantee.

There are many, however, do not rely on this, and will eat only dairy products that are designated as Cholov Yisrael (literally, "Jewish milk"). This is particularly true in large Jewish communities, where Cholov Yisrael is widely available.

Rabbi Moshe Feinstein wrote that under limited conditions, such as an institution which consumes a lot of milk and Cholov Yisrael is generally unavailable or especially expensive, American milk is acceptable, as the government supervision is adequate to prevent non-kosher ingredients from being added.

It should be added that the above only applies to milk itself, which is marketed as pure cow's milk. All other dairy products, such as cheeses and butter, may contain non-kosher ingredients and always require kosher certification. In addition, Rabbi Feinstein's ruling applies only in the United States, where government regulations are considered reliable. In other parts of the world, including Europe, Cholov Yisrael is a requirement.

There are additional esoteric reasons for being stringent regarding Cholov Yisrael, and because of this it is generally advisable to consume only Cholov Yisroel dairy foods.

In 1889, 800 Jews arrived in Buenos Aires, marking the birth of the modern Jewish community in Argentina. These immigrants were fleeing poverty and pogroms in Russia, and moved to Argentina because of its open door policy of immigration. By 1920, more than 150,000 Jews were living in Argentina. Juan Peron's rise to power in 1946 was an ominous sign, as he was a Nazi sympathizer with fascist leanings. Peron halted Jewish immigration to Argentina, introduced mandatory Catholic religious instruction in public schools, and allowed Argentina to become a haven for fleeing Nazis. (In 1960, Israeli agents abducted Adolf Eichmann from a Buenos Aires suburb.) Today, Argentina has the largest Jewish community in Latin America with 250,000, though terror attacks have prompted many young people to emigrate. In 1992, the Israeli Embassy in Buenos Aires was bombed, killing 32 people. In 1994, the Jewish community headquarters in Buenos Aires was bombed, killing 85 people. The perpetrators have never been apprehended.

Be aware of what situations and behaviors give you pleasure. When you feel excessively sad and cannot change your attitude, make a conscious effort to take some action that might alleviate your sadness.

If you anticipate feeling sad, prepare a list of things that might make you feel better. It could be talking to a specific enthusiastic individual, running, taking a walk in a quiet area, looking at pictures of family, listening to music, or reading inspiring words.

While our attitude is a major factor in sadness, lack of positive external situations and events play an important role in how we feel.

[If a criminal has been executed by hanging] his body may not remain suspended overnight ... because it is an insult to God (Deuteronomy 21:23).

Rashi explains that since man was created in the image of God, anything that disparages man is disparaging God as well.

Chilul Hashem, bringing disgrace to the Divine Name, is one of the greatest sins in the Torah. The opposite of chilul Hashem is kiddush Hashem, sanctifying the Divine Name. While this topic has several dimensions to it, there is a living kiddush Hashem which occurs when a Jew behaves in a manner that merits the respect and admiration of other people, who thereby respect the Torah of Israel.

What is chilul Hashem? One Talmudic author stated, "It is when I buy meat from the butcher and delay paying him" (Yoma 86a). To cause someone to say that a Torah scholar is anything less than scrupulous in meeting his obligations is to cause people to lose respect for the Torah.

Suppose someone offers us a business deal of questionable legality. Is the personal gain worth the possible dishonor that we bring not only upon ourselves, but on our nation? If our personal reputation is ours to handle in whatever way we please, shouldn't we handle the reputation of our nation and the God we represent with maximum care?

Jews have given so much, even their lives, for kiddush Hashem. Can we not forego a few dollars to avoid chilul Hashem?

Today I shall...

be scrupulous in all my transactions and relationships to avoid the possibility of bringing dishonor to my God and people.

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